One thing that I love doing is doing good to those who have done me evil. It’s a joy seeing their face. Way back in the day I remember when I was leaving a job to start my own business. My boss was furious with me. He couldn’t understand why I would leave. I was the one who did the night shift and did extra without being asked. I got along with everyone and had been there since the place opened. The smile on my face didn’t go well for Him, but I understood. What he was saying to me didn’t change me, nor did I answer him to escalate the situation. Words do have power over you if you accept them. You not accepting them give you power over the situation.
1 Peter 3:9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.
Another thing I love to do is to give to those who can’t repay me. I am not referring to money. It’s about meeting someone’s needs. Unfortunately, everything today centers around money rather than God. A thoughtful gesture like cleaning someone’s gutters, cutting their grass, or shoveling their driveway expecting nothing in return, but doing it out of love will go a long way. The more I understand that I do it to the least of these people who can’t help themselves, the more I am doing for God. In turn, God is the one who rewards me rather than men. He tends to reward me for my needs when I least expect it. I rejoice even more knowing that it came from Him.
Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
With thanksgiving already past in the United States, it is a great reminder that God’s goodness leads men to repent. I am reminded of a time when I was in a very large city to pray for people out on the streets. A hungry man asked me for some money. I didn’t have any, but I took him to a convince store and met his needs. Later that day two men came up to me out of the blue and wanted pictures taken with me. I had no clue who they were, so I did. On the way home the Lord spoke to me adorably and said, “You know those two guys who got pictures with you?” I responded, “Yeah.” He said, “They were angels.” I couldn’t stop crying all the way home. Be blessed, my friends.
Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.